Chapter 10: The Net Tightens
Rain fell softly that night, tapping against the studio windows like a quiet countdown.
Chen Zehao sat alone in his car, the engine off, phone clenched in his hand. The message on the screen felt heavier than any threat he had ever faced. For the first time, fear outweighed arrogance. He replayed everything in his mind—the jade, the letters, the child's eyes that seemed far too sharp.
"That little girl…" he muttered. "Who exactly are you?"
Inside the studio dormitory, Lin Xiao Yan lay beside Hua Yichen, listening to her mother's uneven breathing. She could tell Hua Yichen was still awake, trapped between the past and the present.
"Mommy," Xiao Yan said softly, breaking the silence, "if someone hurt you before, does that mean they get to hurt you forever?"
Hua Yichen's body stiffened. After a long pause, she shook her head. "No… it doesn't."
Xiao Yan smiled faintly in the darkness. "That's good. Because bad people should pay for what they did."
The words sounded innocent, childish even—but Hua Yichen felt a strange sense of reassurance settle in her heart.
The next day, the studio buzzed with tension.
Liang Zhiwei arrived with his assistant and a legal representative. Officially, he was there to discuss sponsorship matters. Unofficially, he was there for answers.
During a break in filming, Xiao Yan was sent to the waiting area. She sat quietly on a small chair, sipping warm milk. Liang Zhiwei approached slowly, crouching down so they were at eye level.
"Xiao Yan," he said gently, "can I ask you something?"
She nodded.
"Do you know why that jade is important?"
Xiao Yan tilted her head, pretending to think. "Because it helps people find each other."
Liang Zhiwei's breath caught.
Before he could respond, a staff member rushed over, pale-faced. "Mr. Liang… there's an issue."
Moments later, the director announced a temporary pause in filming. Whispers spread quickly. Someone had submitted anonymous evidence to the production team—letters, photos, transaction records.
All tied to Chen Zehao.
By the time Chen Zehao realized what was happening, it was too late. Security escorted him into a private office. His face was ashen, his confidence shattered.
"This is a misunderstanding," he insisted, voice tight. "Someone is framing me."
Outside the door, Xiao Yan stood holding Hua Yichen's hand. Her grip was small but firm.
"Mommy," she whispered, "don't be scared."
Hua Yichen looked down at her daughter, at the calm in her eyes, and for the first time, she felt something lift from her chest.
Across the hall, Liang Zhiwei watched the scene unfold. Pieces finally aligned in his mind—the timing, the jade, the child, the woman he had once failed to protect.
His phone buzzed.
A message from the lab.
Probability of paternity: 99.99%.
The world seemed to go quiet.
Liang Zhiwei closed his eyes briefly, then looked up at the little girl standing in the hallway. Xiao Yan met his gaze without fear, without hesitation.
This time, she smiled openly.
The truth had arrived.
And from this moment on, nothing would ever be the same.